The first rays of sunlight stretched lazily across the island, glinting off the ocean and painting the sky in soft golds and pinks. Mahiru pushed open the door to her cottage, stepping outside with a lightness she hadn't felt in days.
Her lips twitched upward, but she forced her face into a neutral expression, brushing a hand through her hair as she tried to tamp down the bubbling feeling inside.
"Just act normal..." she muttered under her breath. "It's not like it's a big deal or anything."
Still, there was a slight bounce in her step she couldn't hide as she made her way down the path.
"Oho~?"
A familiar voice chimed from nearby. Mahiru flinched, turning to see the Ultimate Dancer leaning casually, arms crossed, against the wall, with a smirk so wide it almost split her face.
"Well, well, well, look who's practically floating this morning!" she cooed.
"Morning, Hiyoko." Mahiru cleared her throat, trying to appear normal. "Have you been...staking me out?"
"Just couldn't wait to talk to you this morning!" Hiyoko skipped up to her with an impish grin, hands behind her back and eyes sparkling with mischief. "You're sure in a good mood!"
"N-No, I'm not," Mahiru said quickly, crossing her arms. "I'm just...getting some fresh air, that's all."
"Eeeh? After your loooovebird date yesterday?" Hiyoko sang, bouncing on her heels. "You're totally blushing, too! So gross~!"
"Am not!" Mahiru flushed instantly and turned her face away. "We just hung out, okay? Hajime and I were just...just..."
"Juuust~?" Hiyoko leaned in closer, smirking.
"Just talking! That's it!" Mahiru huffed, stomping ahead toward the hotel lobby. "So drop it already, jeez!"
"Sorry, sorry." Hiyoko gingerly patted her side. "Just thinking a lot about last night...I'll remember that for a long time."
"Remember...what?" Mahiru asked, her stomach clenching with a sudden cold chill. Hiyoko's eyes narrowed, her playful smirk twisting into something cruel.
"'It finally haaaappeeeened~'" she dreamily quoted Mahiru, striking some overdramatic poses. "'I've fallen in love with Hajime Hinataaa!~'"
Mahiru turned red as a beet. Even she herself could scarcely believe that she had just...admitted that to everyone. To her best friend. She'd kind of said it on impulse, riding the high of the happiness she'd been feeling, but she knew her heart was genuine.
"If you even make an attempt to tell him I said that," Mahiru grumbled, shooting Hiyoko a pointed look, "I'm..."
"Yeah?"
"I'm...!"
"You?"
"I'm gonna do something!"
"Wow, how threatening!"
"I'll think of some way to get back at you!" she spat. "I'm serious, Hiyoko! Distance! KEEP IT!"
"I don't think I even need to tell him," Hiyoko sighed, shaking her head. "You're all dreamy and weird now! You're totally in la-la-land! Even if I say nothing, he'll notice."
"I am not dreamy!" Mahiru threw her hands up, cheeks burning...but deep down, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't completely wipe away the smile tugging at her lips.
Mahiru and Hiyoko stepped into the restaurant, expecting the usual buzz of voices and clatter of plates. Instead, a heavy silence greeted them.
YOU ARE READING
Danganronpa 2: ReCaptured
FanfictionWhat would it be like in a world where the killing game went differently? What would it be like if different people lived and different people died? What would it be like...if this story...had an entirely different hero. A rewrite of the game Super...
